Radium needle



w. LclUMMxNGs.

RADIUM NEEDLE. HL"ED MAYCIO, 192|- Jan. 16, 1923.-

Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED'r STATES WILLIAM L. CUMMINGS, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

naDIpUM NEEDLE ,Application led May 1G,

To all whom t may 00m/67%.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. CUM- MINGs, a citizen of the United States, residwhich has the advantages of detachable and interchangeable points, eyelet and handle.

Another object is to provide such needles with radium barrels so constructed that if.

desired two or more barrels can be readily connected together in a single needle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a radium needle which can be used with advantage and convenience in numerous capacities.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an enlarged View of a needle constructed in accordance with my invention with the handle, point, and single radium barrel connected ready for use,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the needle with an eyelet substituted for the handle shown in Figure 1; the construction being shown as to readily permit the interchange of the handle and eyelet,

Figure 3 is a view of the same general character as shown in Figure 2 with two radium barrels connected together in axial alignment,

Figure 4f is an enlarged detail view of the handle,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the bod;7 port-ion of the barrel,

Figure 6 is a detail View of the barrel closing and coupling member,

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views of two different forms ofneedle v.points which I preferablV employ, i

Figure 9 is a detail view of the eyelet,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section, greatly enlarged, of the body portion of the radium barrel illustrating the same .before'fsaid closing and coupling member is connected therewith, and L.

Figure 11 1s a view of the same general 1921. serial No. 468,309.v

characterl as shown in Figure V10 with said y closing and couplingY member connected to the body portion of the barrel.

The parts of my improved `radium needle are preferably constructed of non-corrosive acid-resistant metal which has the strength of steel such for example as monel Referring to the drawings, my improved needle includes a'barrel 12 adapted to contain radium, the parts of which 4are shown in Figures 5 and .6 and alsoI in Figures 10 and 11. The barrel 12 includes an elongated body portion 13 providing a cavity 141 in which can be placed the radium element; said cavity being locatedentirely between the opposite endpportions 15 and 16. vThe end portion 16 has a screw threaded hole 17 extending axially and communicating with the cavity 141 at one end thereof land lthe radium element can be inserted in the cavity through the hole 17, A barrel closing and couplingmember `18 has a central portion 19l with two oppositely disposed stems 20 and 21; said central portion being of larger diameter than the stems 20 and-21 so as to provide shoulders 22 and` 23. VThe stems 20 vand 21 are screw threaded `Aand after 1^ radiumy element has beeninserted in the cavity 14 Aof the barrel body portion 13, the stem 2O of the barrel closing and couplingl member 18 is screwed in the hole 17 of said body portion so lthat the. shoulder 22 abuts the extreme vend 24E of the body portion, after which the member 18 is soldered to the'body portion ,'13, at the parting between the central portion 19 of the member 18 and the end 24 of the body portion L13 so asto hermetically seal `the radium element within the cavity 14. The central portion 19 of the member 18 isv preferably made ofthe same outside diameter as the diameter of'the body portion 13 so that when the member 18 is connected` to the Vbody portion 13 coproduce the barrel 12, asl showin in Figure the outer surfaces of the body portion and .member '18 lwill be flush. l y

The opposite endvportion v15 of the body portion 13 has an axially .extending screw threadedhole 25'in which may bescrewed.

either the screw threaded stem 26 of 'the r points such. for example as shown in detail Cri i-- Figures, 7 and 8; said points having screw threaded holes 30 in which the screw threaded stem 2l of the member 18 can fit, It desired two or more of the radium barrels can be connected together in axial align ment as shown in Figure f3; the stem 2lv of one barrel being screwed into the hole 25 ot the other barrel as is obvious from the construction shown in Figure ll.

In the use of my invention when .it is desired to use the needle in a cancer that is exposed and easily accessible, the eyelet is screwed onto the barrel as shown for example in Figure 2 and the eyelet can be employed Jfor drawing a thread and also for the security of the needle and for removing the same from the condition being treated. To illustrate this manner orP use in the treatment of a cancer of the bladder where an opening has' been made and the growth eX- posed, the needles are inserted into the growth. After the needles are inserted, the wound is sewed up and the needles withdrawn by the threads through the usual drainage tube.

In the treatment of cancer of the prostate the needle is used as shown in Figure l with the handle attached, by a perineal puncture.

In the event it is desired to use the needles in treatment ot cavities and not for insertion purposes the points and eyelets or handles may be detached and the barrels enclosed in a brass tube similar to that used when the radium salt is sealed in the usual glass capsules, and then inserted in one oi'- these brass tubes.

Thus my invention has a wide range ot' use .since itshas the advantages of usingv the radium as a needle and at the same time the radium can be used in tubular form in the event the. condition to be treated warrants the radium in this form.

Inasmuch as the effectiveness'ot the rays trom radium is in proportion to the distance between the source of the rays and the condition to be rayed it is apparent that radium in the needle :form is more effective than when used in tubular form and applied to the condition.

Considering that one of the barrels conw tains approximately l2;- milligrams of radium element, by combining two of these needles it is possible in one continuous needle to have 25 milligrams of radium element. In some conditions this is the dosage required whereas if 873%- milligrams of radium element is desired as the dosage the same can be had by combining three of the barrels; assuming that the condition is one favorable for the use of the radium in this manner.

Furthermore the construction as above described and as illustrated permits thequick interchange of parts either to substitute the handle for the eyelet or vice versa or for using one or more of the barrels tor varying the amount of radium required.

lVhile I have described :my invention as taking` a particular form, it" will be understood that the various parts ot my invention may be changed. without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit mysell. to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to ma re such changes and alterations` as fairly come within the scope ot the appended. claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zl. A` radium needle including a barrel adapted to contain radium having a screw threaded stem projecting from oneend and,

a screw threaded hole at the opposite endL whereby implements and accessories of dit ferent kinds may be attached to opposite ends; substantially as described. y

2. A radium needle including barrel having a body portion providing a cavity adapted to contain radium and a screw threaded yhole communicating` with `said cavity; and a closing and coupling member having' opposed screw threaded. stems, one of which is adapted to be screwed into said hole ot thebody portion, the other serving' as means for attachment ot another part; substantially as described.

A; radium needle including a barrel having a body portion providing` a cavity adapted to contain radium and a screw threaded hole communicajting` with said cavity and a closing and coupling member having opposed screw threaded stems, one.

of which is adapted to be screwed into said hole of the body portion. the other serving' as means tor attachment ot another part, said body portion having a screw threaded hole whereby a. handle or eyclet can be screwed therein; substantially described.

4;. A. radium needle includingY a barrel haring a body portion {')roviding a cavity adapted to contain radium and a screw threaded hole communicating with said cavity; and a closing member having;` a Vsoie-w threaded stem fitting said screw thjeaded hole and another portion abutting' the body portion adjacent the outer end of said hole. said member being in sea led connection with said body portion: substruitially described. K.

In testimony whereof I have j' naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

VILLIAM L. CUMMINGS.

. l/Vitnesses: MARGARET C. Hoorus, MARY C. BECKER. 

